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Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) £110

All learner moped and motorcycle riders are required to complete a CBT before going out onto the road and there are five elements that must be completed before a CBT certificate (DL196) can be issued.

If you need cheap transport to get around and are happy to ride a 50cc (at least 16 years old) or a 125cc (at least 17 years old) on L plates, then you must complete a CBT. The only exception to this is holders of full car licences issued before 1st February 2001 who are entitled, by a quirk of the law, to ride a restricted moped. The CBT however, can only be delivered by a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) approved training school.

So why can't all motorcycle trainers offer these courses?

All CBT's include an off-road section which can only be conducted on a specially approved area by instructors who passed the DSA course and who also hold the CBT licence. The off-road area used has to pass stringent criteria laid down in the CBT regulations and must be inspected and approved by a DSA examiner. Only Authorised Training Bodies (ATB's) offer these facilities.

If you are going to gain a full motorcycle licence, you will need to have a valid CBT certificate. A CBT certificate validates the provisional part of a driving licence for a 2 year period. CBT cost is £110 for a day. One to one training is available at £135.

Highway Code

Once your course is booked, you need to make sure you're familiar with the Highway Code. It's not a prerequisite for taking a CBT, but you will find it beneficial by brushing up on the contents, as part of the course involves a discussion of rules and regulations of the road.

On The Day

Read over the following suggestions to ensure that you are fully prepared for the day.

The training provider will give you a full briefing of what to do on the day, including going over what to wear.

In wet conditions – ensure you are wearing warm, waterproof clothing.

In hot conditions – do not turn up wearing t-shirt and shorts! Safety comes first so make sure you're fully protected.

Helmets can be provided - in the event you decide to use your own, ensure that it is in good condition.

Do not wear trainers or soft shoes – regardless of the weather, you should wear a strong pair of shoes or boots that protect your ankles as well as your feet

Your CBT training will be a long day, therefore, ensure you have a good nights sleep and be aware that if you are drinking alcohol the night before, you will have residual alcohol in your blood the following morning.

What The CBT Involves

The course is divided into 5 sections and the instructor will assess your performance in all these areas as the day progresses.

Each section must be taken in order and completed before moving onto the next section. Though there are no time limits on each section, there is a minimum time of 2 hours to be spent on the Road Ride section with your instructor.

This should be spent riding and not sitting at the side of the road or in the café. Feedback is given during the ride at appropriate times & a debrief will take place at the end of the ride.
If you spend less than 2 hours out on the road and have not properly completed your road ride, and are still presented with your pass certificate (DL196) at the end of the course, the instructor is in breach of the regulations.

An outline of what is included in each section is listed below:

Element A – Introduction & Eyesight Check

The first part of your CBT will we classroom-based with an introduction to the course along with what you can expect from your sessions.

This will include a discussion on the importance of safety equipment, licence check and eyesight check. All candidates must be able to read a number plate at 20.5 metres.

Element B – Practical On-Site Training

You'll be introduced to your machine for the first time at this point.
You will be shown the controls and the instructor will explain how they work. You will also go over some basic checks that you will need to do every time you ride including checking oil, petrol levels and tyre pressure for example. You will then be shown how to take the bike on and off the stand and you will be asked to push the bike to get used to the weight and feel. Finally, you'll be shown how to start the engine.

Element C – Practical On-Site Riding

Here you will be moved to a safe off-road area to start to ride. There are 8 exercises for moped riders and 9 for 125 geared machine riders that must be completed to a satisfactory standard. These range from moving off and stopping, to how to deal with junctions. There are specific control exercises designed to give you confidence, such as the figure of 8 and U-turn exercises.

Element D – On-Road Training

Now, it's back to the classroom for a well-earned break from riding where you will go through the pre-road ride briefing.

Here you will cover:

All the aspects of staying safe on the road

The Highway Code, and the relevant sections covering motorcycles and mopeds.

Discuss how to stay visible and reduce the level of vulnerability.

Principles of riding defensively - making sure that other road users know you are there and take you into account.

Finally, you will cover the legalities such as speed and obeying road signs and instructions.

Element E - On-Road Riding

Back out on the road, you'll be putting it all together for a minimum of 2 hours (legal requirement). There is a maximum of 2 students per instructor and you will be guided through a variety of road conditions through radio contact.

You will normally begin on quieter roads before progressing to a town centre location with some longer, faster roads to give you the chance to experience a range of road conditions and demonstrate your skills.
Here you will need to show that you are safe and competent. Your instructor will need to feel confident that you would be safe if allowed to drive alone.

Certificate of Completion (DL196)

When all five elements have been satisfactorily completed, a certificate of completion, called the DL196, will be issued. This certificate validates the relevant entitlements on your driving licence. You need to note that:

A DL196 certificate is valid for two years - your CBT will have to be retaken if both theory and practical tests are not passed within the two-year certificate life.

For moped entitlement only - if you pass your car driving test whilst your DL196 is still current or complete a CBT course and obtain a DL196 after passing your car test, the certificate is not subject to expiry. Please note that this applies to mopeds only, for riding motorcycles as a learner the DL196 remains valid for two years.

Sound theoretical knowledge will help lead to a successful CBT, so a working knowledge of the Highway Code is essential. The link below provides free viewing:

As mentioned above, on the day, come sensibly dressed, bearing in mind the weather conditions. Please speak to our staff for advice. You must present your driving licence and DVLA code that enables us to carry out an online check of your driving licence. Follow the online instructions to obtain the code here.

Damerells Motor cycles Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 663732). We act as a credit broker not a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders who may be able to offer you finance facilities for your purchase. We will only introduce you to these lenders. We may receive a commission payment from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them. You may be able to obtain finance for your purchase from other lenders and you are encouraged to seek alternative quotations. If you would like to know how we handle complaints, please ask for a copy of our complaints handling process. You can also find information about referring a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) at financial-ombudsman.org.uk